The effect of coupling circuits in power line communications on impulsive noise

Abstract : Most researchers in the Power Line Communications field have adopted the practice of using idealized impulse noise models (Middleton class A) directly at the input of the demodulator, as is widely done in simulations. The effect of the coupling circuit on the impulse noise tends to be ignored. However, coupling circuits produce transients. This work focuses on investigating the effect of the coupling circuit on the impulse noise. This was achieved through a series of measurements conducted using different coupling circuits. An experimental set-up was developed which separates the generated impulse noise and the measured impulse noise after the coupling circuit. It was observed that the coupling circuit produces transients which must not be ignored. The transients produced by the coupling circuit introduces ringing to the impulse noise signal affecting its time domain parameters which have the most adverse effects to data transmission on power lines. To further understand the effects of the coupling circuit, an equivalent circuit of the coupling circuit was developed and simulations were conducted. These confirmed the occurrence of resonance in the coupling circuit introducing ringing to the impulsive noise signal. iM.Ing. (Electrical and Electronic Engineering